Nanne Boonstra

About Nanne

Abstract

Bridging social capital through sports: an explorative study on (improving) inter-ethnic contact at two soccer clubs in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the social integration of minorities has been the subject of much debate in recent years. Historical events such as the murders of politician Pim Fortuyn and writer Theo van Gogh, and more recently the emergence of organizations such as Islamic State (IS), have had a major impact on public debate in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, belief in the socially integrative role of sport has increased. Sport, especially formal participation in sport, is expected to contribute positively to social cohesion and the social integration of minorities. Nonetheless, existing research shows that policymakers overestimate the impact of sport on social integration in society. Sport is no panacea. Sport can include people, but it can also exclude them by bringing together those who “look alike”. In this article we explore whether (and how) sport, and in particular soccer, can lead to bridging social capital, despite the fact that people generally prefer to congregate with “equals”. We base our results on questionnaires and a limited number of additional interviews at two soccer clubs in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands. We conclude that although sport can reinforce segregation, formal participation in sport also has the ability to enhance social inclusion and inter-ethnic contacts. The research indicates that measures could be taken in order to promote understanding and respect.

How to Cite:
Verhagen, S. and Boonstra, N., 2014. Bridging social capital through sports: an explorative study on (improving) inter-ethnic contact at two soccer clubs in the Netherlands. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice, 23(4), pp.23–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.423

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Verhagen, S. and Boonstra, N., 2014. Bridging social capital through sports: an explorative study on (improving) inter-ethnic contact at two soccer clubs in the Netherlands. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice, 23(4), pp.23–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.423

Verhagen S, Boonstra N. Bridging social capital through sports: an explorative study on (improving) inter-ethnic contact at two soccer clubs in the Netherlands. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice. 2014;23(4):23–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.423

Verhagen, S., & Boonstra, N. (2014). Bridging social capital through sports: an explorative study on (improving) inter-ethnic contact at two soccer clubs in the Netherlands. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice, 23(4), 23–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.423

Verhagen S and Boonstra N, ‘Bridging Social Capital Through Sports: An Explorative Study on (improving) Inter-ethnic Contact at Two Soccer Clubs in the Netherlands’ (2014) 23 Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice 23 DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.423

Verhagen, Stijn, and Nanne Boonstra. 2014. “Bridging Social Capital Through Sports: An Explorative Study on (improving) Inter-ethnic Contact at Two Soccer Clubs in the Netherlands”. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice 23 (4): 23–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.423

Verhagen, Stijn, and Nanne Boonstra. “Bridging Social Capital Through Sports: An Explorative Study on (improving) Inter-ethnic Contact at Two Soccer Clubs in the Netherlands”. Journal of Social Intervention: Theory and Practice 23, no. 4 (2014): 23–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.18352/jsi.423